L’Oréal, the French multinational beauty conglomerate, has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Medik8, a UK-based skincare brand renowned for its science-driven, dermatologically focused products. The acquisition, announced on Monday, marks a significant step in L’Oréal’s strategy to solidify its footprint in the premium dermocosmetic segment, a market that continues to experience rapid global growth.
Indonesia’s newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara Indonesia, is reportedly engaged in early-stage talks with GoTo Group $GOTO.TA regarding a possible acquisition of Grab Holdings Ltd. $GRAB. While neither party has officially confirmed merger negotiations, the prospective deal could significantly alter the competitive dynamics in Southeast Asia’s digital economy.
The anticipated $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel $X by Japanese giant Nippon Steel Corporation $5401.T is moving closer to fruition, as Mexico’s antitrust regulator, Cofece, is expected to resume the review of the deal this Thursday. This development removes one of the final regulatory barriers to the merger, which was initially announced in December 2023. Nippon Steel’s acquisition aims to further consolidate the global steel industry amid shifting market dynamics and increasing pressures on supply chains.
Merck & Co. $MRK has reportedly entered discussions to acquire Swiss biotech firm MoonLake Immunotherapeutics $MLTX in a deal exceeding $3 billion, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. This potential acquisition underscores a broader industry trend where big pharma firms target clinical-stage biotech companies with promising late-stage assets to boost their immunology and specialty drug pipelines.
On June 3, 2025, Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) granted unconditional approval to the long-anticipated merger between two of the country’s largest pet retail chains, Petz $PETZ3.SA and privately-held Cobasi. The clearance removes the final regulatory barrier to the proposed cash-and-stock merger, initially announced in April 2024.
Paramount Global $PARA has announced the nomination of three new board members, a move that reflects its intent to strengthen corporate governance amid a pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. This strategic realignment comes as regulatory agencies continue to assess the proposed transaction. If approved, the merger would reshape the landscape of global entertainment media by combining Paramount’s legacy content portfolio with Skydance’s tech-driven production capabilities.
A potential $42 billion privatization deal between Toyota Industries Corp. $6201.T and Toyota Motor Corp. $7203.T has brought renewed focus to Japan’s corporate restructuring strategies and the role of conglomerates in equity markets. As the yen (JPY) continues to hover near multi-decade lows, major Japanese corporations are revisiting ownership structures to drive operational efficiency and investor value.
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi $SAN.PA has announced its largest acquisition in years, agreeing to purchase Blueprint Medicines Corp. $BPMC for over $9 billion. The all-cash deal, valued at $129.00 per share, underscores Sanofi's strategic commitment to rare immune-related disorders, a high-margin and fast-growing niche within the broader biopharmaceutical industry.
ON Semiconductor Corp., better known as Onsemi, made headlines with its announcement of a $6.9 billion unsolicited bid for Allegro Microsystems Inc., which includes debt in the offer. Onsemi is offering Allegro shareholders $35.10 per share, up from a prior proposal of $34.50 made in September. This increase indicates Onsemi's commitment to acquiring Allegro, a significant player in the semiconductor industry.
